Dynamic cable system

Abstract

A dynamic cable system ( 11 ) for spanning two or more adjacent vertebrae V includes a longitudinal cable ( 12 ) having an inner cavity ( 12 a ) and at least one damping material ( 13 ) disposed within the inner cavity. Each of the vertebrae includes at least one bone fixation element ( 10 ) attached thereto. The bone fixation elements include a channel formed therein. The longitudinal cable is positionable within the channel and the longitudinal cable is a plait cable, a woven cable, a braided cable, a knitted cable, a twisted cable or a tube. The dynamic fixation system can include a first bone fixation element mounted to the first vertebra, a second bone fixation element mounted to the second vertebra, a first clamping sleeve ( 19 ) including a first bore ( 33 ), a second clamping sleeve including a second bore, the longitudinal cable having a first end, a second end, and an inner cavity, and the damping material disposed at least within the inner cavity.

1 . A dynamic cable system for spanning two or more adjacent vertebrae, each of the vertebrae having at least one bone fixation element attached thereto, the bone fixation elements each including a channel formed therein, the dynamic cable system comprising:
 a longitudinal cable having an inner cavity, the longitudinal cable positionable within the channels; and   at least one damping material injection molded into the inner cavity, wherein the longitudinal cable is selected from the group consisting of a plait cable, a woven cable, a braided cable, a knitted cable, a twisted cable and a tube.   
     
     
         2 . The dynamic cable system of  claim 1 , wherein the cable includes a plurality of fibers separated by a plurality of gaps, the at least one damping material is injection molded into the inner cavity of the cable through the gaps formed in the cable. 
     
     
         3 . The dynamic cable system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one damping material is also injection molded around the cable so that at least a portion of the cable is encapsulated by the damping material. 
     
     
         4 . The dynamic cable system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one clamping sleeve including a bore that receives at least a portion of the cable, the at least one clamping sleeve received within one of the channels.   
     
     
         5 . The dynamic cable system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least a portion of the cable received in the bore is devoid of any damping material. 
     
     
         6 . The dynamic cable system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one clamping sleeve includes a first end and a second end, the first end includes a plurality of tabs separated by recesses. 
     
     
         7 . The dynamic cable system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one clamping sleeve includes first, second and third clamping sleeves, the first, second and third clamping sleeves each having a first end, a second end and an intermediate clamping area, the first, second and third clamping sleeves arranged coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal cable, which extends through the bores of the first, second and third clamping sleeves, first and second ends of the second clamping sleeve facing the first clamping sleeve and the second clamping sleeve, respectively, the at least one damping material disposed around, at least partially, the first, second and third clamping sleeves and the longitudinal cable. 
     
     
         8 . The dynamic cable system of  claim 1 , wherein the cable includes two or more sets of fibers that are braided, knitted or twisted together in opposite directions. 
     
     
         9 . A dynamic fixation system for spanning a first vertebra and a second vertebra, the first vertebra positioned adjacent to the second vertebra, the dynamic fixation system comprising:
 a first bone fixation element mounted to the first vertebra, the first bone fixation element having a first channel formed therein;   a second bone fixation element mounted to the second vertebra, the second bone fixation element having a second channel formed therein;   a first clamping sleeve including a first bore, the first clamping sleeve positioned at least partially within the first channel;   a second clamping sleeve including a second bore, the second clamping sleeve positioned at least partially within the second channel;   a longitudinal cable having a first end, a second end, and an inner cavity, the first end received within the first bore and the second end received within the second bore; and   a damping material disposed at least within the inner cavity, wherein the cable is selected from one of a plait cable, a woven cable, a braided cable, a knitted cable, a twisted cable, or a tube.   
     
     
         10 . The dynamic fixation system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one damping material is injection molded into the inner cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The dynamic fixation system of  claim 10 , wherein the longitudinal cable includes a plurality of fibers separated by a plurality of gaps, the damping material being injection molded into the inner cavity of the longitudinal cable through the plurality of gaps. 
     
     
         12 . The dynamic fixation system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 at least one damping material injection molded around the longitudinal cable so that at least a portion of the longitudinal cable is encapsulated by the damping material.   
     
     
         13 . The dynamic fixation system of  claim 12 , wherein the damping material is injection molded around the cable and at least a portion of the clamping sleeves. 
     
     
         14 . The dynamic fixation system of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second ends of the longitudinal cable are devoid of the damping material. 
     
     
         15 . The dynamic fixation system of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second clamping sleeves include a plurality of tabs separated by recesses.